One Massage, Then Call Your Oriental Doc in the Morning

The third International Exhibition on Oriental Medicine opened Thursday at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in Samseong-dong, Seoul. The exhibition organized by JoongAng Ilbo and Kyunghee University is scheduled to conclude Monday.

The event aims to introduce advanced marketing methods to oriental medicine, to provide a forum for businesses to exchange information and to present the efficacy of oriental medicine to the general public.

Approximately 250 oriental medicine clinics, research institutions and educational entities are involved in the event, including 80 Chinese herbal-medicine doctors, research organizations, and makers of equipment used in processing oriental medicine.

Korean oriental medicine clinics will hold special seminars and lectures on the use and formulation of traditional herbal medicines for the treatment of diabetes, cerebral palsy, asthma, high blood pressure, degenerative spinal illnesses, paralysis and liver illness.

Chinese medicine doctors will hold lectures Sunday and Monday on acupuncture treatment for paralysis and herbal medicines to treat cancer.

One of the lecturers, Wang Shuseon, a third-generation acupuncturist, is the descendent of a family of court physicians.

Acupuncture can offer relief from pain and sickness by stimulating specific points in the body, often through the use of needles.

Wang Jinching, also a practicioner of traditional Chinese medicine, will report on specific cases and clinical evidence supporting acupuncture's effectiveness.

Nearly 170 manufacturers and dealers of athletic and health equipment, medical devices and traditional pharmaceuticals are displaying their products.

Many companies will have test samples on display. Visitors with stiff shoulders and lumbago can receive massages and try out health drinks.

"I came here to look for presents for my parents, since Chuseok is coming up," said Lee Ji-hyeon, a housewife from Seoul. "I found a lot of interesting things to do in this exhibition."

However, she said most of the medical equipment and appliances were too expensive for ordinary people to buy since they are targeted at people engaged in the oriental medicine business.

"I wish more corporations that dealt with more casual products for home use, such as packs stuffed with various herbal materials to relieve stiff muscles, participated in this exhibition," Mrs. Lee said.

The exhibition will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The admission fee is 3,000 won ($2.30).

English translators will be available during the lectures and seminars. For more information, you can telephone 02-751-2124 or 02-6000-0114.

by Koh Han-sun